has to be cleveland.
they may have gotten the last piece they needed to win it all... it takes balls to make a trade when you're already the best in the conference, and this move was ballsy and terrific.

knicks got rid of jeffries's contract ($6,883,400) for the expiring one of T-Mac, so this summer they have basically enough cap-space to sign TWO max contracts. They are looking for LBJ and - ehm - this guy from Toronto. That's quite scary

Arguably every team in the poll made great moves that benefited them for now and long term. The trade with the most headlines was the Jamison trade, and by far the most suspect. It makes the cavs that much closer to winning a championship and resigning Lebron. A very good move by Danny Ferry, to opt for jamison rather than stoudamire.

New York cleared up enough cap space for two maximum dollar contracts this offseason.
That's a pretty big step towards seeing LBJ and DW on the same team.

Double-edged sword - putting all their eggs in one basket like that could end up being the worst move the team has ever made, and that's saying something because that organization has been pretty fucking brutal at times.

For me it's Dallas. The Mavs started off hot but really started to slow down and just when it looked like the window had closed and the ship was sinking, they improved significantly at two starting positions and put themselves in a position to maybe beat LA. They sure are built for it.

New York cleared up enough cap space for two maximum dollar contracts this offseason.
That's a pretty big step towards seeing LBJ and DW on the same team.

I heard yesterday that they'll be 32Mil under the cap, which isn't two max players or am i wrong? Plus they'll only have 4 players signed for next season off their current roster (including Curry's 11Mil) going into the summer. So i highly doubt they can sign two max players + fill out the remaining... around 7-8 spots on the roster unless they go waaaayyyyy over the tax, which i wouldn't put past them i guess, but it won't be easy.

I heard yesterday that they'll be 32Mil under the cap, which isn't two max players or am i wrong? Plus they'll only have 4 players signed for next season off their current roster (including Curry's 11Mil) going into the summer. So i highly doubt they can sign two max players + fill out the remaining... around 7-8 spots on the roster unless they go waaaayyyyy over the tax, which i wouldn't put past them i guess, but it won't be easy.

Jeff, that number is a bit off, so the person that gave it to you was mistaken. That figure of $32 million is based off of two assumptions, one of which is definitely wrong; the second assumption might be wrong, too. That person appears to be assuming that the Knicks are obligated to pay Rodriguez, Walker and Giddens, whose salaries, in combination with the other 4 players on the Knicks payroll, would add up to about $20 million. Also, that person appears to be assuming that the salary cap will only be $52 million next season, which is an old prediction that has since been revised by league officials who now predict a salary cap of $55 million or higher, depending on how the rest of the season goes. That person was thinking $52 mill - $20 mill = $32 mill. That's not the case.

The Knicks are only obligated to pay Curry (player option that he'll exercise), Gallinari, Douglas, and Chandler. The combined salaries of those players won't even amount to $18 million. So, assuming the prediction of a $55 million (or higher) salary cap ends up happening, the Knicks would be $37 mill below the cap. Technically, that would provide the Knicks with enough room to provide 2 max contracts. On a $55 mill cap, 2 max contracts would cost approx. $33 million for the first season (60% of the cap - each max being 30% of the cap). However, doing so would still create huge problems, since they'd hardly have any money to use for complementary players. After signing the 2 max players, the Knicks would only have 6 players and $4 million to spend on filling out the roster. They'd have decent 6 guys and a handful of league minimum players. It would be interesting, to say the least. If the Knicks do get lucky and land 2 big name free agents next year, I think a more likely scenario is 1 max player and 1 All-Star level player who makes around $10-12 million per year(maybe Rudy Gay or T-Mac, if he takes less money). But even then it's going to be hard to put together a bench and get some size. In my opinion, the smartest move is probably to try and land one of Lebron, Wade, or Joe Johnson, and then resign David Lee for a contract similar to Bargnani's. That is, one that starts at $8 mill, even though it's worth more per year over the long haul. That lower first year salary would allow the Knicks to have a bench that's not full of D-leaguers.